When sport is practised at a hobby level, it provides relaxation and recharging for the enjoyment of the sport. Competitive sport, on the other hand, involves hard work and endurance, which can sometimes be extremely challenging for the athlete and can be accompanied by success or failure.
Source: https://sporttour.hu/a-sportolok-teljesitmennyel-szorongassal-kapcsolatos-problemai/
The competitive situation is in fact the precursor to the performance evaluation. And performance is realised in the number of places and in the evaluation of oneself. We do not know during the preparation period and during the competition which feeling we will be confronted with at the end of the competition. Obviously, we want to finish with the best possible result and the higher the stakes, the more we will feel that way. If an athlete is touched by anxiety in this situation, it can have a strong impact on his or her performance.
The key to the onset of performance anxiety is early detection, preventive treatment and elimination. Seeing a psychologist can be crucial in such cases. A psychologist is easily available in Budapest, just make an appointment for a first meeting.
Anxiety can already interfere with the preparation, as it takes attention and energy away from the rider. There can be several reasons for anxiety, and it is the job of the professional to identify them. It may be a negative experience, lack of competence, bad mood, lack of preparation, errors in coaching assessment, low self-esteem, exaggeration of the strength of an unpredictable opponent, or a change in the circumstances of the competition, or even a negative development. The development of anxiety is also strongly influenced by demands.
Symptoms of performance anxiety may include:
- feeling unwell,
- headaches,
- nausea,
- muscle tension,
- clammy hands,
- sweating,
- negative inner speech,
- stomach tremors.
Unfortunately, the symptoms are associated with difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, which can lead to failures that increase anxiety. It is therefore very important to address the problem as soon as possible. If a psychologist is needed, every athlete can find the right one at pszi.hu.
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